comments:
Merrel Tactical and UnderArmour Valsetz Zip are sturdy boots with soles that protect from rocks while flexing a little for normal walking. They are 8” boots, so more supportive than mid-high hiking boots. The Merrells come in wide widths, although I find the UA boots fit similarly. Both are light-ish as boots go, but not ultralight like trail runners. If the stiff sole doesn’t resolve your metatarsal pain, try a metatarsal pad behind the metatarsal that bothers you. The Sole insoles with met pad (that Boysenberry suggests) have the bump in the correct spot for your big toe, but the bump was not aggressive enough for my metatarsal pain. I had to add a Dr Scholls “Ball of Foot Pad” (Walmart, Amazon, shoe stores) to fully eliminate the pain on one foot. Tip: I wound up using Gorilla tape to secure the Dr Scholls pad to the Sole insole. Tip: These pads with 3M adhesive are more sticky than Dr Scholls, but I haven’t tried them because the Dr Scholls is working fine for me: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DYW41L3